How much heat can our body bear? This is less than you you think
With the intensity of the heatwaves, the study highlights the increasing risk of heat related diseases, especially to the weaker population.
A new study of the Human and Environmental Physiology Research Unit (Hepru) of the University of Ottawa has confirmed that humans can tolerate much lower heat compared to the first estimated, strict implications with an increase in global temperature.
Published in PNAS, the research throws light on the immediate need to address climate-operated health risks.
Dr. Robert D. Mede and Dr. Under the leadership of Glenn Kenny, the study exposed 12 volunteers for 12 of its own extreme conditions and 57% humidity – for a hyumdex of 62C – to test the thermoregulation boundaries.
“Recent estimates suggests that large geographical areas will soon experience heat and humidity,” the researchers said in paper.
The main temperatures of the participants increased uncontrollably during prolonged risk, unable to complete several nine hours of tests. “The results were clear: Once the threshold is crossed, the body cannot cool itself,” said.
Research validated the “thermal-step protocol”, a decades-old method to estimate the human heat range, but revealed that these thresholds are much lower than the previous model.
Dr. Kenny emphasized urgency: “The area may soon experience the level of heat and humidity more than the limit of safe survival. This data is important as climbing global temperature”.
With the intensity of the heatwaves, the study highlights the increasing risk of heat related diseases, especially to the weaker population.
With the intensity of the heatwaves, the study highlights the increasing risk of heat related diseases, especially to the weaker population.
Cities should now reconsider safety guidelines, as healthy persons also face physical stress in extreme conditions. Kenny emphasized the need to integrate physical data in the climate model: “It helps to predict where and when the heat will be disorganized”.
Unlike pre -laboratory simulation using artificial heating suits, this study mimicked the real -world heat risk, and provided more accurate insights.
Participants reflected long -term heatwave conditions, undergoing day trials just above their thermoregurate boundary. Conclusions align with climate projections, indicating that the vast region-south can cross the limit of living heat-warm-warmer.
“Understanding these boundaries is not academic – it’s about saving life,” Mede said.
